Cognitive Disabilities

Caring for a Loved One with Cognitive Disabilities

Henry taught high school and was a talented painter.

Henry taught high school math for more than 40 years. For decades, Henry also painted large canvases of the local New England countryside. Upon retirement, he passionately concentrated on his hobby and became well regarded as a talented oil painter. He and Rita, his wife of 50 years, were living their dream.

Rita noticed changes in Henry's behavior.

Then Rita noticed a difference in Henry. He would sit staring at his easel for long periods of time without painting. He seemed forgetful. He didn't have the sharp wit that made him a favorite with students throughout his teaching career. Rita took Henry to the doctor, who performed a series of tests. The doctor told Rita and Henry that he suspected Henry had Alzheimer's.

Rita couldn't keep up and soon became overwhelmed. She had difficulty dealing with the change in their relationship—from loving spouse to primary caregiver. She called Right at Home and was introduced to Shelly. While at Henry and Rita's house, Shelly takes over the most stressful tasks for Rita – like bathing and toilet assistance. She occasionally vacuums, dusts and does the dishes. This gives Rita the time to get a break from her caregiving duties. She has lunch with her friends every week, goes shopping with a friend after church on Sundays and gets her hair done regularly. She also has the time and peace of mind to sit quietly with Henry, hold his hand and reminisce about their life together.

Testimonials

My dad had been resistant to home companions in the past so I was very nervous how he would react to the Right at Home caregivers. They immediately put my worries to rest. They were very gentle and nonthreatening and were able to get my dad up in the morning and take him to his day program even when he didn't want to go. It meant a lot that the caregivers agreed to meet with me prior to their first visit to my dad and I liked reading the visit log the caretakers filled out each day.